Martini-Enfield Issue

Smitticus

Smitticus

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Northern Saskatchewan
Hey Gents,

A while back I purchased a Martini-Enfield that was barrel stamped for .303. I never used it once, it just sat in my safe so I tried to find it a new home. They guy who bought has since told me that he's having difficulty getting a round to chamber "because the ramp is too low." I suggested making sure the lever is fully open and maybe lubricating the firearm a bit. When I sold the firearm I stated that I had never used it myself but I don't want to leave him hanging because I care about doing the right thing. Do you wise CGN members have any advice I could pass on to him?

Thanks

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The Martini-Henry was never designed for the .303 cartridge, it was converted to that calibre in the early days of WWII to arm the Home Guard in Britain.

It might help if your friend can take a pic showing the round as it's being loaded and where it seems to be hanging up.
 
Martini-Metford and Martini-Enfield were official british government conversion done in the 1890's, some where even done at the Citadel Arsenal in Egypt. Some inferior un-official copies were done in Pakistan.
 
shredder said:
The Martini-Henry was never designed for the .303 cartridge, it was converted to that calibre in the early days of WWII to arm the Home Guard in Britain.

It might help if your friend can take a pic showing the round as it's being loaded and where it seems to be hanging up.
Click to expand...

The Martini Enfield was converted from the Martini Henry in the 1890's for use by native and reserve units. Can't have the WOGS running around with the latest 10 round assault rifle, now can we?
As to the question, the round needs to be pushed into the chamber, you can't just drop a 303 round on the ramp and have it slide in. The .450/.577 original cartridge had a bigger base. I would guess that the ramp is lowering to where it needs to be and your friend is expecting far too much from a 100+ year old conversion.
 
There is a book in Scribd called Mr Single shot's guns by Frank de Haas. There is a section on the martini that explains how to adjust the height of the breech block. It is free to read in its entirety. That should solve the issue.
 
It might be correct. Perhaps a good cleaning and a drop of oil? The ramp is supposed to drop to a position that requires a shove with the thumb on the back of the round to let it clunk into place in the chamber. The loading ramp should sit 1/16 - 1/8 inch high when at rest in the open position.

Once the round is popped into position, the block should then spring back up into its resting position again. With this little bit of spring in the ramp movement, it will prevent the round from falling out of the chamber and onto the ground should you lift the muzzle into the air.

Oil it up then let us know what it does.
 
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